Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-25

Showing how the contagion of diphtheria
NAV make infected houses dangerous for
some time, it may be mentioned that there
were no other cases of diphtheria at Aliens
Corner after the visit of the Secretary in
June until fall. On the last day of August a
house was vacated by a family which is not
included in the above history, but which had
diphtheria in the winter or spring. Early in
September another family moved into this
house. The five children and the father
were attacked with dphlheria in November,
ard four of the children died.
In regard to diphtheria in East Madison,
the disease had been prevalent in Skowhegan
and there seemed probability of its importa-
ton from that source. Two young ladies
who had been in Skowhegan had diphthe
rite sore throat, which extended to the other
Younger members of these two families.
lady, a neighbour, who came in to help care
tor the children of one of these families took
the disease and died. Another neighbor, a
lady of fifty-six VINO helped lay out this last
case, died four DAYS afterward. Altogether
there were eight deaths, one death occurring
in each of eight families. The recommended
tinns of the Secretary were quickly put into
operation by the formation of little volun-
tary sanitary organization, by disinfecting
and by guarding against contagion. As the
result of this work not another case occurred
In Canton there were 26 cases in two
outbreaks. one in June and the other in
August. The starting point seemed to be the
school house. the sanitary condition OF which
was bad After the first case appeared other
children from the same family attended
school until they were taken down, thus in
fecting the school.
In Brunswick there were 20 deaths. and
many cases among the French population.
Among this class there were IS deaths from
all causes for the whole year, against ~ for
1885, and 80 for 1884.
In Van Buren, village there had been at
the time of the visit of the Secretary, Is
cases of typhoid fever of which one, repre-
septstive-elect Charles Farrell, had already
died. Almost the whole village used the
water from particular spring. OF the 49,
all but 4 had used the water from this spring
and possibly some of these 4. The spring,
during showers, received the water from the
village and directly above the spring the
first case of typhoid fever occurred in July,
which probably gave rise to the outbreak 10
eariy september by polluting the spring with
the typhoid germs. jugful of the water
from this spring was found by Prof. Robin
son to be very badly contaminated.
Some interesting and instructive accounts
are given of typhoid fever in other towns
Places visited for the purpose of making
sanitary examinations, to give advice other
than as regards outbreaks of the contagious
diseases, are Bar Harbor, Deering, Norway,
Gorham, Boothbay, Brunswick, Brewer and
Northport. :.
In addition to the preventive disease circu-
lars published last year, and which are con-
stantly kept in print ready for distribution as
needed, there have been printed and distrio
an
ment of the drowned, and one on the conta-
gious diseases of animals.
Under the head of 'Various Sanitary
Topics" quite large number OF matters OF
practical interest are treated of, some orieny..
some at considerable length. A resume Oh
the present status of the question OF the con-
tagiousness of human pulmonary tuberculosis
or consumption, is given. Some of the other
titles under this head are the sanitary slgnin-
canoe of mild cases of the infectious diseases
d iphtheria, comparative value of negative